Author Nicole MacDonald | Fantasy Blog & Writing Updates

When Is a Book Actually Finished?

A reflection on the freedom and tension of indie writing, and how knowing when to stop revising can be just as important as knowing how to improve a book.

The Rewrite That Required More Honesty Than Courage

A reflection on rewriting with honesty rather than fear, and how letting go of people-pleasing transformed both the story and the writer behind it.

Method Writing: What Living Taught Me That Writing Couldn’t

A reflection on method writing, and how first-hand experience taught me things research alone never could when writing action, training, and movement.

Borrowed Souls: What Real People Taught Me About Writing Characters

A reflection on character development, and how observing real people helped me write more nuanced, believable characters — and why real life is only ever the starting point.

The Book That Took Years to Write—and One Month to Draft

A reflection on the long, quiet thinking that often precedes writing, and how years of mental groundwork can make the drafting process feel fast, clear, and inevitable.

The Dreaded Rewrite: What Revisiting My Trilogy Taught Me

A reflection on revisiting and rewriting a published trilogy, and what distance, discomfort, and honesty taught me about writing craft and creative growth.